The Arts and Industries Building — Historic Renovation
Project Details
Owner: Smithsonian Institution
Contract Amount: $3,487,749
Date of Award: December 1973
Grunley restored the museum to its original appearance for the nation's Bicentennial. The vacated exhibition space was converted to administrative space, and new floors were inserted for additional offices to accommodate growing outreach programs.
The remaining four halls and rotunda were carefully restored in order to give visitors a glimpse of the building's Victorian appearance. This work included the recreation of geometric stencils from the original patterns in rich Victorian colors of yellow, red, green, and blue on the rotunda and hall spandrel.
This project earned an award of excellence from The American Institute of Architects in 1976.
The building, originally known as the U.S. National Museum, is made of red brick and Ohio sandstone, and opened in 1881.
Last updated: January 17, 2011